News: 305th APS airman earns Bronze Star, foreign awards

Col. Richard Williamson, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, awards Staff Sgt. Mark Kosisky, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation journeyman, the Bronze Star Medal Jan. 31, 2013, at the Passenger Terminal on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Kosisky received the award for his exceptional meritorious service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and his outstanding dedication to duty during combat operations in Afghanistan he was also awarded the Defense Intelligence Emblem of Honor from the Romanian Ministry of National Defense and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, Bronze award during the ceremony. Kosisky hails from Jenkins township, Pa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wayne Russell/Released)

The Bronze Star Medal recipient, Staff Sgt. Mark Kosisky, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, also received the bronze level German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and the Romanian Defense Intelligence Emblem of Honor Medal, for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan from April 25 to Nov. 4, 2012.

“It felt great to receive the award in front of my peers and the wing commander,” said Kosisky. “I was truly humbled and honored.

Kosisky deployed for seven months as the Movement and Air Liaison NCO in-charge of Combined Special Operations Task Force-Ten during combat operations supporting International Security Assistance Force.

Williamson praised the support from the squadron and Kosisky for his achievements.

“I’d like to thank all of you for supporting Mark,” said Williamson. “It’s an incredible honor to be awarded these medals. Not just the Bronze Star from our own services, but also from our colleagues and brothers-in-arms, the German and Romanian Armed Forces.”

Kosisky led the Kabul International Airport Movement Team processing 55,000 short tons of inbound cargo and 133,000 short tons of outbound cargo in support of the Assistance Force during his deployment. He was responsible for ground and air operations which maintained supply lines to 10 locations, six detachments and five partner nation units.

Whether it was ammunition and cargo, or personnel conducting battlefield circulations throughout 10 provinces in Afghanistan, Kosisky used knowledge gained as an aerial porter to help coordinate all ground and air movements for the task force.

“Most of the stuff I took out there, I learned here,” said Kosisky.

“It was a great experience to be working not only jointly with the U.S. Army and Navy, but also combined with our NATO partners,” said Kosisky.

The Bronze Star Medal is a decoration authorized by Executive Order No. 9419 Feb. 4, 1944, and is awarded to a person in any branch of the military service who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, has distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. The medal is the fourth-highest combat decoration and the ninth-highest U.S. military award in order of precedence (combat and non-combat).

"The 305th APS is very proud of Staff Sgt. Kosisky's accomplishments while deployed,” said Maj. Edward Hogan, 305th APS commander. “He represents not only the ‘Port Dawg’ community of professionals well, but his recognized work ethic is typical of our ‘Can Do’ creed here in the 305th AMW."